Bobbin-driving means for rotatable spindles.



PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

F. H. THOMPSON. B'OBBIN DRIVING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE SPINDLES.

lllltllltllllN IIIII'IIIIIIK IIIIIIIII\ APPLICATION FILED MAY 5 PatentedJuly 11, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. THOMPSON,

SAWYER SPINDLE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND,

OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MAINE.

BOBBlN-DRIVING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE SPINDLES'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,693, dated July 11,1905.

Application filed May 5, 1905. Serial No. 258,968.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Hopedale, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Bobbin-Driving Means for RotatableSpindles, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of novel, simple, andeffective bobbin-driving means for rotatable spindles, such as are usedin spinning, twisting, and similar apparatus.

The construction and arrangement of the driving means is such thatclutching members rotatable with the spindle are acted upon byspring-controlled means in such manner as to normally maintain theclutching members in bobbin-driving position.

Application of a bobbin first acts to temporarily effect inward movementand contraction of the clutching members against the action of thespring-controlled means to permit the bobbin to be properly positioned,whereupon the clutching members immediately tend to resume their normalposition, engaging the bobbin internally with a driving contact.

The application of a bobbin or its removal is effected readilyandquickly without any undue strain upon the bobbin, and when positionedupon the spindle it is driven in unison therewith.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described inthe subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in thefollowing claims.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation and section of a rotatable spindleprovided with bobbindriving means embodying one form of my presentinvention, a bobbin being shown in section in position, one of theclutching members being removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showingthe expander in elevation and illustrating the manner in which theapplication of a bobbin acts to effect contraction of the clutchingmembers. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the spindle, expander, andcontrolling spring, the clutching members being shown in dotted lines.Fig. 4 illustrates in two positions the several connectedbobbinclutching members detached. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line5 5, Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the spindle and clutchingdevice in normal position.

The rotatable spindle 1 of any suitable character is herein shown asprovided with a whirl 2, connected with the spindle by a dependingsleeve 3, having its upper end enlarged at 4 to form a bobbin-rest, saidenlargement being provlded with an annular re cess or seat 5 concentricwith the spindle, Figs. 1 and 2 and dotted lines, Fig. 6. A cylindricalsleeve 6, which may be integral with the bobbin-rest, extends upwardtherefrom and surrounds the spindle, and on the latter above the upperend of the sleeve an enlargement 7 is provided, substantially a doublecone and constituting an expander. The lower cone presents a taperedsurface which acts, as will appear, to force outward or expand theclutching members. In the present embodiment of my invention a metallicand substantially cylindrical shell is longitudinally slotted from itsupper end downward at 8, Fig. 1, leaving a plurality of elongatedresilient clutching members 9, connected at their lower ends by the ringor collar 10, which slips easily over the sleeve 6 and loosely entersthe seat 5. Each member 9 is transversely segmental, as shown in Fig. 5,three of such members being herein illustrated and sufliciently thin forthe greater portion of their length to be quite resilient, an internalshoulder 11 being formed on each member near its upper end, and abovethe shoulder the member is provided with a beveled face 12. The beveledfaces and the shoulders are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and it willalso be seen that the clutching members are thickened at their upperends and externally are longitudinally curved or convexed, as at 13.

A coiled spring 14 is interposed between the upper end of the sleeve 6and the shoulders 11, surrounding the intervening portion of thespindle, the expansibility of the spring normally acting upon theshoulders to raise the clutching members or move them bodilylongitudinally of the spindle to force the bev-v bers, connected at 10,rising from the bottom.

of the seat 5. Further upward movement is limited by the expander, aswill be obvious, and referring to Fig. 6 it will be seen that When thespindle is running bare the expanded clutch members at their upper endsslightly overhang their lower ends.

When the bobbin 16 is applied to the spindle, the lower end or mouth ofthe chamber 15 in the head of the bobbin strikes the convexed andexpanded surfaces at the upper ends of the clutching members, as in Fig.2, and as the bobbin is pressed down the clutching members are bodilydepressed against the action of the spring. This moves the beveled faces12 down and away from the expander 7, so that the clutching members cancontract and enter the bobbin-chamber as the bobbin is pushed down uponthe rest 4, the spring thereafter acting to lift the clutch members farenough to enable the expander to spread said members into drivingengagement with the walls of the chamber 15, as in Fig. 1.

The device is strong and durable and simple, the controlling-spring isfully inclosed and protected by the clutching members, and there ispractically no chance for loose ends of yarn to catch and be wound ortangled into the bobbin-driving device.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction andarrangement herein shown, as the same may be modified or varied indifferent particulars by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a rotatablespindle, of elongatedbobbin-clutching members rotatable therewith and adapted to interiorlyengage a bobbin, and spring-controlled means to effect lateral expansionof the clutching members into bobbin-driving position.

2. The combination with arotatable spindle, of resilientbobbin-clutching members rotatable therewith and adapted to interior] yengage a bobbin, an expander on the spindle, and a spring to move saidmembers bodily and longitudinally into engagement with the expander, toforce outward the clutchingmei'nbers into bobbin-driving position.

3. The combination with a rotatable spindle, of a plurality of connectedand elongated resilient bobbin-clutching members rotatable therewith andadapted to interiorly engage a bobbin,and separate means,includingaspring, to normally expand said clutching members and maintain them inbobbin-driving position.

4. The combination with a rotatable spindle, having an attachedexpander, of bobbin-clutching members surrounding and having limitedlongitudinal movement relative to the spindle, and a spring normallytending to move the clutch members longitudinally into engagement withthe expander, to force the members outward into operative drivingposition.

5. The combination with a rotatable spindle, of laterally expansible,resilient bobbinclutching members rotatable therewith and also having alimited bodily movement longitudinally thereon, an expander tointernally cooperate with said members, and a spring to normally movethe latter longitudinally into position to'be forced outward by theexpander.

6. The combination with a rotatable spindle, of bobbin-clutching membersrotatable therewith and having a limited bodily movement longitudinallythereon, and means, including a spring, to cooperate with and normallymaintain said members in expanded, operative position, the applicationof a bobbin effecting sufficient longitudinal movement oftheclutchingmembers to permit their temporary contraction to receive thebobbin.

7. The combination with a rotatable spindle of a collar surrounding thespindle and having a plurality of integral, elongated and resilientclutching members inclosing the spindle and each having an internalshoulder and a beveled face above the shoulder, a conical expander onthe spindle to cooperate with said faces, and a coiled springsurrounding the spindle and hearing at its free end against theshoulders, to bodily move the collar and its attached clutching memberslongitudinally toward the expander. to thereby expand said members andnormally maintain the same in expanded position.

8. The combination with a rotatable spindle having an attachedbobbin-rest and an expander located above it, said rest having anannular seat concentric with the spindle, of elongated,resilientbobbin-clutching members connected at their lower ends and looselyentering the seat, said members being longitudinally convex externallyat their upper ends and having internal beveled faces to cooperate withthe expander, and a spring to act upon the clutching members andnormally move the same longitudinally toward the expander, to therebyeffect lateral expansion of the said members.

9. The combination witharotatable spindle, In testimony whereoflhavesigned my name of bobbin-clutching members rotatable thereto thisspecification in the presence of two sub- 10 gith ani adaptedtolircilteriorly engage a gob scribing Witnesses.

in. an means, inc u ing a spring, to e ect lateral expansion of theclutching members FRANK THOMPSON into bobbin-driving position by orthrough Witnesses: limited longitudinal movement of said mem- GEORGEOTIS DRAPER, bers with relation to the spindle. ERNEST W. W001).

